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The Range Allotment Owners Association was created last summer. According to the website, their purpose is educating, informing and assisting allotment owners in protecting their property rights and promoting the interests of livestock organizations and communities dependent on the West’s livestock industry. They maintain that permittees actually own their allotments. Public Lands Council Executive Director Ethan Lane says

Lane: “What we are seeing with this is a lot of discussion of the history of grazing in the West. For anyone of us that works on these issues or grew up around them it is incredibly interesting and important history. Where this theory goes off track for us, is that it makes a leap between from what we recognize as a very real right asset and value in the preference rights to a grazing permit. It makes a leap from that value that we work really hard to protect to outright ownership. It does it without any backup in case law or fact and that is our concern.”

Lane continues with what he hopes current federal land permittees keep in mind

Lane: “So what we want permittees to understand is while we understand it is a compelling theory and we absolutely understand the frustration that permit holders in the West have with federal management. What we are wanting to make sure they are cautious about is anything that is too good to be true. A simple solution to a complex problem usually isn’t simple as it looks. I think that is the overarching message we want to get across is be diligent in looking at this stuff and asking yourselves, ‘Is it too good to be true? Or does it need more vetting first?’”